Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV44501’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘RIKAV44501’, characterized by its outwardly spreading to mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; relatively large dark red-colored flowers with light yellow green-colored “eyes” that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; and relative tolerance to Powdery Mildew ( Podosphaera xanthii ).

Botanical designation: Verbena hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RIKAV44501’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RIKAV44501’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous and freely-branching Verbena plants with numerous flowers and tolerance to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) and good garden performance.

The new Verbena plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 18, 2015 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 14V353-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 13V349-04, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 26, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 30, 2016, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RIKAV44501’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RIKAV44501’ as a new and distinct Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading to mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Relatively large dark red-colored flowers with light yellow         green-colored “eyes” that are held above and beyond the foliar         plane.     -   7. Relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii).

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena are more tolerant to Powdery Mildew         than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have darker red-colored flowers without white-colored “eyes”.     -   4. Plants of the new Verbena are more tolerant to Powdery Mildew         than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbena hybrida ‘Lan Reda07’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,986. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘Lan Reda07’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Lan Reda07’.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Lan Reda07’.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena are more tolerant to Powdery Mildew         than plants of ‘Lan Reda07’.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbena hybrida ‘Usbenal5’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,851. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘Usbenal5’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more mounding than and not as         upright as plants of ‘Usbenal5’.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena and ‘Usbenal5’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Usbenal5’ have purple-colored flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena are more tolerant to Powdery Mildew         than plants of ‘Usbenal5’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Verbena plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV44501’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV44501’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Verbena production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida ‘RIKAV44501’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Verbena hybrida identified as code number 14V353-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Verbena hybrida identified as code number 13V349-04, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading to mounding             plant habit; freely branching habit with about eight primary             lateral branches each with about four to six secondary             lateral branches developing per plant; pinching is not             required; dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 9.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 12             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 24 cm by 26 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—Variable, about 11.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Orientation.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to             trailing.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; matte.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 146C.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Deltoid.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Hirsute;             matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to 147C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to 147C. Color, lower surface: Close to 147C             to 147D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Sessile salverform flowers             arranged in upright hemispherical terminal racemes; flowers             face upward or outwardly; freely flowering habit with about             32 flowers developing per inflorescence and typically more             than 550 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring until frost in Michigan; early flowering habit,             plants begin flowering about seven weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Pubescent,             minute; matte. Color: Close to 46A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.8 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Tube diameter, distally.—About 2 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals             fused towards the base into a slender narrow tube. Petal             lobe length: About 1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1 cm. Petal             lobe shape: Roughly cordate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate.             Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Petal texture and luster,             lower surface: Pubescent, minute; matte. Throat texture and             luster: Pubescent; matte. Tube texture and luster: Scattered             pubescence, minute; matte. Color: Petal, when opening, upper             surface: Close to 46A. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             Close to 53B. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to             46B; venation, close to 46B; color does not change with             development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             53B; venation, close to 53B; color does not change with             development. Throat: Close to 145D; venation, close to 145D.             Tube: Close to 157A; venation, close to 157A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused             towards the base into a slender tube. Length: About 1.1 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Sepal length: About 8 mm. Sepal width:             Less than 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Sepal             apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster,             inner surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Sepal             texture and luster, outer surface: Pubescence, minute;             matte. Sepal color, when opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 146D. Sepal color, fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 146B. Sepal color, fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster:             Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four             per flower, filaments partially adnate to corolla tube.             Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close to 145D.             Anther shape: Flattened oval. Anther size: About 1 mm by             1 mm. Anther color: Close to 151A. Pollen amount: None             observed. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:             About 1.6 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma diameter:             About 1 mm. Stigma color: Close to 146A. Style length: About             1.3 cm. Style color: Close to 145B to 145C. Ovary color:             Close to 144B. Fruits and seeds: To date, fruit and seed             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Verbena. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 2° C. to about 40° C. and are     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8a to 11b. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have been     observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera     xanthii). To date, plants of the new Verbena have not been observed     to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Verbena     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV44501’ as illustrated and described. 